High Power Microwave Research, Atmospheric Plasma Phenomena, Ultra-Wideband Propagation and Generation

Abstract

The primary objectives of this effort were to investigate gas breakdown, plasma antennas, and laser induced plasmas in the atmosphere. The contractor investigated the electrical breakdown of different types of gas under very fast transient voltage excitation. The research addresses different types of gas under different conditions of pressure, temperature, and electrical field stress as expressed on a Paschen curve. The contractor also investigated the feasibility of generating and shaping conducting plasma to be used as an antenna and generating a conducting path in the atmosphere using a high power laser.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA421932

Entities

People

  • David W. Scholfield
  • John M. Gahi
  • William Prather

Organizations

  • University of New Mexico

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Atmospheres
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Excitation
  • Field Emission
  • Gas Breakdown
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • High Power Microwaves
  • Microwaves
  • New Mexico

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers